Friendship Cemetery

Friendship Cemetery is a 70-acre burial ground in Columbus containing around 22,000 graves arranged in three interlocking circles. This circular pattern comes from the Odd Fellows emblem, a historic fraternal order that originally shaped the cemetery's design.

Founded in 1849, the cemetery expanded during the Civil War when Columbus served as a hospital center, resulting in the burial of roughly 2,000 Confederate and up to 150 Union soldiers there. The conflict left a lasting mark on who rests at the grounds.

The cemetery's name reflects a spirit of reconciliation that continues to shape how the grounds are cared for today. Visitors can observe how graves from different backgrounds rest side by side, maintained with equal respect.

The grounds are located at 1300 4th Street South and are accessible for walking, with paths that make exploring straightforward. Detailed records about specific graves are available through the Library of Congress, which helps when looking for particular burial sites.

In 1866, local women placed flowers on graves of both sides of the conflict, starting a tradition that influenced the creation of Memorial Day. This simple gesture of unity became one of the roots of a national holiday now observed across America.